PROUD Blackburn manager Mark Hughes admitted he couldn't have asked any more from his players against Chelsea, despite miss-ing out on a place in the FA Cup final for the second time in three years.

The Rovers boss had urged his men to be mentally as well as physically tough enough against Jose Mourinho's quadruple chasers.

Rovers battled back from a goal down to equalise in the 64th minute through Jason Roberts and forced extra time. But Michael Ballack delivered the killer blow and, despite a couple of late chances, Rovers couldn't recover a second time.

Hughes praised the character, resilience and quality his players displayed against a side chasing domestic and European glory.

"I thought we were excellent today. Every one of my players put in a performance they can be proud of," he said.

"We've run an exceptional Chelsea side very close. I doubt whether or not they've had a harder game this season. They've played against top quality sides right through - a fantastic season for them - but it wasn't to be for us.

"We had a slow start and we conceded at that point. But from then onwards I thought we got to grips with the game.

"I emphasised it from the beginning of the week, the only way we were going to win this game was if we showed we believed we actually could win it.

"I think we showed that in abundance in the second half - fantastic belief, fantastic determination and drive in our play.

"Their keeper is man of the match by all accounts, and rightly so - I think that tells a story.

"In the second half I thought we were exceptional, the way we took the game to Chelsea and kept forcing them back into their own half.

"I think we came to the game today with not many people giving us any chance, possibly suggesting it was a foregone conclusion, but I think we proved today it certainly wasn't.

"Today we've proved to ourselves that we're an exceptional side and that reassures me. It's reassuring that I know my players can reach that level of performance."